Captain Clutch was scorching from deep!
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That was exactly what the Big Blue Nation needed. In a game the home team dominated from start to finish, the Kentucky Wildcats had an outstanding offensive performance while leading by as many as 22 in a 91-77 win over the No. 25 Vanderbilt Commodores.
Kentucky improves to 19-10 overall and 10-6 in conference play while keeping hope alive for a double-bye in the SEC Tournament.
Now that’s a first half of basketball! Kentucky was hot offensively in the first half, scoring 18 points before the first media timeout. They kept up their hot shooting and scoring, shooting 55% in the first half and 9-16 from 3-point range.
Speaking of 3-point range. Collin Chandler: Say no more. He made five 3s in the first half, the most of any half in his career.
All five starters for Kentucky still managed to score at least five points, with Denzel Aberdeen second behind Chandler with eight points and two 3-pointers.
Perhaps the best stat of all: The Cats had just three turnovers against 12 assists.
Defensively, the Cats held the Commodores to just 42 percent shooting and 18 percent from 3-point range. Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton both did not score in the first half, and Tyler Tanner only had six points.
Kentucky came out and pounded the paint, got to the free-throw line and spread their offense out all in the first five minutes.
Vanderbilt made some shots, so it was great Kentucky answered them all early on. The Wildcats didn’t let the Commodores get closer than 12 points early in the second half. That set the tone for the second 20 minutes.
Otega Oweh only had six points in the first half, but he was in double figures in the second half alone.
The way the Wildcats offense played today looked like a team capable of playing deep into March. Are they short-handed? Yes, but they’re still deep enough. They’re also talented enough to beat good teams and play at the level they played at today.
Kentucky shot 13-20 in the second half and 17-20 from the free-throw line.
How can it not be? He was in full command from beyond the arc and from the field overall. Kentucky may go as he goes in the month of March. Chandler finished with a career-high 23 points on Saturday afternoon, making six 3-pointers.
Big Blue Nation was having fun this afternoon. Here are the best Twitter reactions from today’s game.
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Big one on deck at Rupp Arena.
One other Commodore is unlikely to play.
Three league games left for everybody.
Will Mark Pope pull the trigger on hiring a GM soon, or will he ultimately keep things the same?
The former Wildcat has stepped up for the OKC Thunder in a big way
“He’s eager to get back.”
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